Here are 5 Fantastic New Restaurants To Try in London This May 2018

Here’s my top 5 new openings for May 2018 to try in London.

Another month, another set of restaurants to try in London as the summer weather approaches! Pick of the five that took my eye with mixture of soft opening and ready to go across May in London.

Stem, Mayfair
Rating – 5.0
Soft Opening – 1st May 2018

Stem will be chef’s Mark Jarvis third in London and follows his very highly reviewed Anglo’s in Farringdon and Neo Bistro by Oxford Street. A modern British menu with over 100 wines available to pair with your dinner choices which can be either à la carte or a taster menu when available. I’ve heard the buzz for the opening of Stem over the past couple of months so I’d advise getting a booking in soon.

Now for someone who loves their Soho branch, this is of particularly exciting news to hear. Kricket began at Pop Brixton and moved out to open their first permanent base in Soho but fantastic news that owners Rik Campbell and Chef Will Bowlby are returning to their beginnings and opening their second restaurant in Brixton. Packed full of Indian flavours with small plates to share, if you haven’t tried their Soho branch then head to Brixton later this month. Oh, and get their Keralan Fried Chicken.

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Lina Stores, Soho
Rating – 4.6
Opening – 4th May

Soho’s oldest Italian delicatessen is opening its first restaurant on Greek Street serving fresh pasta and Italian cuisine. Having been in Soho for over 75 years, this will be the first permanent base for Lina Stores and their starters will be fresh from the popular deli close by. Pasta’s ranging from tortellini to pappardelle with an Italian wine menu to sample, if the food is as half as popular as their deli then will be in no doubt this will be another Soho success for Lina Stores.

One that opened last month and sure not to miss is Chef Tom Brown’s new restaurant in Hackney. Named after Tom’s favourite Arctic Monkeys song, Cornerstone offers seasonal British food with a wide range of seafood from squid to mackerel and an accompanying wine and cocktail menu with their own bespoke gin especially for Cornerstone. Hackney is quickly becoming a foodie hub for East London and have no doubt Cornerstone will be a popular destination so book a table soon.

Who doesn’t love a bottomless brunch? Combine that with it being run by the hugely successful The Daisy Green Collection and that makes me very happy. Their new site in Soho, ‘Scarlett Green’ opens in May and will bring tasty burgers, vegan options and bottomless brunches so something for everyone. Should you just want brunch without the booze then Scarlett Green will offer an extensive menu choice to kick your weekend off right.

Let me know if you’ve heard of any other new openings recently or upcoming in London I’ve missed or like to share! Message me on Instagram at @londonfoodie1.

Here are previous months’ new openings that are still worth checking out:

Here are the top new restaurants in London to check out this April

New month so here is a mix of new, new-ish and new to come but all should be added to your list to visit soon!

Passyunk Avenue, Fitzrovia

Rating – 4.9

The best of Philadelphia has come to Fitzrovia as the street food experts Liberty Cheesesteak Company have opened Passyunk Avenue to bring the classic Philadelphia Cheesesteak to London in its most tasty and authentic take as possible. I was in Philadelphia last year and experienced a proper cheesesteak for the first time and it compared to nothing I had in the UK before so I am very happy that Passyunk is here. Fresh baguette filled with juicy steak, caramelised onions and melting cheese, there’s no better comfort food out there. My only advice – ask for your choice ‘Whiz Wit’!

The Vurger Co, Shoreditch

Rating – 4.9

Everyone always has their view on where the best burger is in London but this might be one of the best vegan burgers which came to BoxPark Shoreditch in March. The Vurger Co started as a street food in London in 2016 and now their permanent base offers four burgers of choice from aubergine to mushroom based in a vegan brioche bun. If the burgers aren’t enough then why not add a side of fries or their excellent tasting mac and cheese. These delicious meat-alternative burgers aren’t to be missed when you’re next on Shoreditch High Street.

Freak Scene, Soho

Rating – 4.8

Once again, a pop-up has by popular demand found a permanent home in London and there were no more pop up’s popular than Freak Scene in London last year. Renowned chef Scott Hallsworth, previous head chef at Nobu, take on pan-Asian plates is as good as Soho can offer and is not one you will want to miss. Fan favourites such as the fried chicken remain from the pop-up with new additions that are sure to be as equally well received. Mid-range priced, this is a perfect choice for a date night with a cocktail menu to not miss out on.

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Aside, Peckham

Rating – 4.7

Peckham continues its trend of becoming the new foodie centre of London with their new addition serving modern European small plates at Aside. Mid-range priced but full on flavour, Aside has been opened for a couple of months now but one which has to go to top of the ‘where next’ list. Steak and seafood with a Mediterranean twist, their dishes are packed full of taste to savour in a very cosy setting.

Banh Bao Brothers, Waterloo

Rating – 5.0

This new Vietnamese in Waterloo on the Thames is due to open soon and they promise to pack full of Asian flavour into their menu which is being kept very secret. Highly anticipated, their soft open dates are due to go live soon so make sure you keep an eye on their website!

Let me know any comments or places to try by messaging on here or Instagram at @londonfoodie1!

Need more ideas? Here are last month’s new openings that you should also check out:

Feast Canteen London, Hammersmith

Rating – 4.5

Looking for street food in West London? Then head over to Hammersmith for the newly opened Feast Canteen featuring some delicious outlets perfect for a lunchtime treat to an after-work catch up with friends. Featuring pizza from Made at Dough, burgers from Patty & Bun and noodles from SIN (Salvation in Noodles – couldn’t agree more) there is something for everyone. Reasonably priced not to break the bank – depending how hungry you are! – this is a great place to go if you want lots of choice for a quick bite.

Sabor, Oxford Circus

Rating – 4.8

Sabor means ‘flavour’ in Spanish, and these guys say true to their name. Situated down probably my favourite street (Heddon Street) for food in London, Sabor has wonderful tastes and plates from Spain with a tapas-style menu includes both excellences from both land and see featuring Iberian Duck Breast to grilled Monkfish. If you only have time for a quick bite, then feel free to grab a drink at the bar and order some small plates but make sure you head to Sabor when next in Central.

Chik’n Islington, Islington

Rating – 4.3

Yet to officially open but will be imminently, Chick ‘n Sours sister company Chik’n are opening a second branch in Islington to follow their first in Baker Street. If you haven’t heard or eaten their tasty menu, I’m sure you can guess what they are about. These fried chicken specialists are ideal for a lunch pit-stop from work or to cure a sore head from the night before on the weekend. A very reasonably priced menu is only matched by how delicious the food is.

Purezza, Camden

Rating – 4.7

Purezza is coming to London and opening the debut branch in Camden after originally coming from Brighton. Purezza was the UK’s first vegan pizzeria in 2015 with a complete plant based menu right down to the mozzarella cheese on their sourdough pizza base on the excellent range of pizza choices. Classic pasta options with a twist including lasagne and mac n’cheese are on the menu also and there is something for everyone on the menu to enjoy.

Jidori, Covent Garden

Rating – 4.2

Good Japanese food, cocktails and karaoke after? What’s not to like? A simple yet delicious menu on offer of small Japanese plates to choose from including a chicken katsu scotch egg which was the first thing to take my eye! Jidori’s new branch in Covent Garden is a great place to stop by if you’re in the mood for some quality Asian cuisine. Well-priced plates individually, the set menu is one to look out for at £40pp. The reason to consider is because this includes your own private karaoke booth with over 8000 songs to choose from which makes Jidori a great choice for a Thursday evening meet up with friends after work.